Below the surface

Nothing is quite what it seems in Eastern Promises

Untitled Document
In many ways, David Cronenberg’s latest
feature, Eastern Promises, is a variation on the theme last explored in his A History of Violence.
Nothing is quite what it seems — and once the truth is
revealed about its characters’ true lives and intentions, the
damage affects not only those who have been exposed but more
tragically, those who have done the unmasking. London is the locale and the Russian Mafia is
the subject as Anna (the plucky Naomi Watts), a hospital midwife,
has the misfortune of delivering the child of a 14-year-old Jane
Doe. Mom dies, but the child lives. Left with the young
girl’s diary, written in Russian, Anna is determined to find
answers. She is able to decipher that there’s a connection
between the young girl and a seemingly affable old man named Semyon
(Armin Mueller-Stahl). Anna makes the mistake of mentioning the
diary in his presence and before you know it, there’s
trouble. The script by Steven Knight is sharply
written, though a bit familiar, and Cronenberg’s crisp pacing
prevents us from getting bored. However, what makes the film stand out is the filmmaker’s insistence on
digging beneath the surface of these characters and his cast’s
willingness to follow him. Mueller-Stahl’s grandfatherly
appearance seems genuine but once he shows his truly sadistic nature,
the shock comes not from witnessing the behavior but from realizing
that Semyon can wear both masks with equal ease. Viggo Mortensen, who
plays a chauffeur named Nikolai, also is quite good here. A simple
vocal inflection, a nod of the head, or a duplicitous smile reveals
what his character is thinking. Unlike those with whom he associates,
Nikolai recognizes what he has lost — and that he’s a
lesser man for it. Mortensen displays the character’s violent
side with aplomb but his introspective moments are what stay with you. Much is made in the film of the tattoos that
Nikolai has inscribed on his body, each representing a different
aspect of his life, all of which when put together supposedly tell
you all you need to know about this man. Through Nikolai,
Cronenberg reminds us that there’s always more than what
meets the eye.